JP2019046395A - Printer controller, print control method and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress occurrence of spoilage without shortening a size of a printing sheet which should be a signature in printing for bookbinding.SOLUTION: The invention is configured to determine a use number Np1, Np2 of first and second printing sheets corresponding to two kinds of printing information Dfly1, Dfly2 prepared for manuscript reception data Dd of one printing job, based on a printing page number of the first and second printing sheets and a total page number Npg of the manuscript reception data Dd. Based on the determined use numbers Np1, Np2 and two kinds of printing information Dfly1, Dfly2, whole printing to the manuscript reception data Dd is determined so that a shorter printing sheet is sandwiched by a longer printing sheet, out of the first and second printing sheets.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that controls printing for creating a signature used for bookbinding.

  In the bookbinding process, a plurality of pages are printed on one sheet, and a signature as a unit constituting the contents of the book is created by folding the printed sheet. After such signatures are stacked in order, they are bound and further cut to complete a bookbinding product.

  When creating a signature, if the number of pages to be printed on one sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to as “printing sheet”) is increased, the printed paper (hereinafter also referred to as “printing sheet”) Since the sheet is processed into a bundle of paper, the weight of one signature is increased, and as a result, the printed sheet is difficult to be skipped and the workability of post-processing (binding processing, cutting processing, etc.) is improved. Further, when the number of pages included in one printed sheet is increased, the strength of the bookbinding product is improved. For this reason, for example, when performing printing for creating a signature with a printing apparatus that performs printing on roll paper, a single printing sheet can be obtained by setting a large interval for cutting the roll paper after printing. It is common to lengthen the size.

  In relation to the print control device disclosed in the present application, Patent Document 1 describes the position of an area in a print sheet corresponding to each page of a bookbinding product when printing is performed on a print sheet to be a signature. An imposition information generating device that generates imposition information indicating the orientation of the page in the print sheet is described. In this imposition information generating apparatus, folding template information indicating how to fold a print sheet is prepared in advance, and thereby imposition information can be easily generated.

JP 2011-70449 A

  However, conventionally, one value is set as the print sheet size (hereinafter referred to as “sheet length”) for one print job (one bookbinding product), and when this value is increased to increase the sheet length, That is, if the number of pages included in one print sheet is increased, a blank page is likely to be generated on the print sheet. For example, when the sheet length is set so that one print sheet includes 12 pages, printing is performed on 14 print sheets that should be 14 signatures constituting a bookbinding product having a total number of 160 pages. If this is done, blank pages of 4 pages (corresponding to 8 pages of double-sided printing) are generated on the 14th print sheet, resulting in loss of paper.

  On the other hand, if the sheet length is set so that one printed sheet includes 8 pages, printing is performed on 20 printed sheets when a bookbinding product having a total number of 160 pages is produced. As a result, no blank page is generated and no waste paper is generated.

  However, in order to reduce the number of pages in one print sheet by setting the sheet length to a small value in order to avoid the occurrence of waste paper, an imposition layout indicating the position and direction of each page in the print sheet is used. It will be necessary to redesign. Also, if the sheet length is set to a small value, the weight of the paper bundle obtained by folding each printed sheet after printing becomes light, and as a result, it becomes easy to be skipped and the workability of post-processing is reduced. descend.

  In addition, the number of pages of one print job (one booklet) is not uniquely determined, and imposition layout selection or redesign is performed according to the number of pages of the print job in order to avoid the occurrence of damaged paper. It is necessary to do.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and the like that can suppress the occurrence of damaged paper without shortening the size of a print sheet to be used as a signature in bookbinding printing.

A first aspect of the present invention is a print control apparatus that receives submission data in a print job for bookbinding and generates print data to be given to a printing machine based on the submission data.
Two or more types of imposition template information indicating the arrangement position and orientation of each page to be imprinted on a print sheet to be used as a signature used for bookbinding and the sheet length of the print sheet with different numbers of pages to be impositioned A template storage unit storing each print sheet,
Based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information as the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets, the number of pages imposed on each type of print sheet and the number of print sheets of that type The sum of the products is equal to or greater than the total number of pages of the submitted data, and the difference between the total and the total number of pages is smaller than the minimum value of the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets. A sheet number determining unit for determining the number of print sheets of each type,
An overall surface that specifies the imposition layout of all pages of the input data based on the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit and the number of print sheets of each type determined by the sheet number determination unit An overall imposition information determination unit for generating imposition information;
A print data generation unit that generates the print data based on the submitted data and the entire imposition information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention,
The sheet number determination unit determines the number of print sheets of each type based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information and a user input operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention,
The template storage unit stores imposition template information for each of the two types of print sheets including the first and second print sheets.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention,
The overall imposition information determination unit is configured such that at least one of the print sheets on which the first page and the last page in the submitted data are impositioned is an imposition page of the first and second print sheets. The overall imposition information is generated so as to have a larger number.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention,
The overall imposition information determination unit is configured such that a print sheet on which the first page and the last page in the submission data are impositioned is an imposition page of the first and second print sheets. The overall imposition information is generated so as to have a larger number.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention,
The sheet number determination unit includes a product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, the number of pages imposed on the second print sheet, and the second The number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that the sum of products of the print sheets and the number of print sheets becomes equal to the total number of pages.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention,
The number of pages imposed on each of the first and second print sheets is a multiple of 4, and the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the second print sheet are imposed. The difference from the number of pages is 4,
The sheet number determination unit, when the total number of pages is a multiple of 4, the product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, and the second The number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that the sum of products with the number of pages imposed on the print sheet is equal to the total number of pages.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention,
The number-of-sheets determination unit has a maximum number of print sheets with the larger number of pages to be impositioned among the first and second print sheets under the condition that the sum is equal to the total number of pages. Thus, the number of the first and second print sheets is determined.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention,
The printing machine is a variable printing machine that performs printing on a continuous recording medium according to the print data;
The print data generation unit generates the print data so that information indicating a cutting position for cutting the recording medium into a size corresponding to the two or more types of print sheets is included based on the overall imposition information. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention,
The printing machine includes two or more paper supply units that respectively hold the two or more types of print sheets, and the two or more types of print sheets are printed on the two or more types of print sheets according to the print data. This is a variable printing machine in which a paper feed unit is configured to be switchable. In any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, the printing machine is a variable printing machine that continuously prints the two or more types of print sheets on roll paper according to the print data. Also good.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a print control method for receiving submission data in a print job for bookbinding and generating print data to be given to a printing machine based on the submission data.
Two or more types of imposition template information indicating the arrangement position and orientation of each page to be imprinted on a print sheet to be used as a signature used for bookbinding and the sheet length of the print sheet with different numbers of pages to be impositioned A template storage step for storing the print sheet in the template storage unit;
Based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information as the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets, the number of pages imposed on each type of print sheet and the number of print sheets of that type The sum of the products is equal to or greater than the total number of pages of the submitted data, and the difference between the total and the total number of pages is smaller than the minimum value of the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets. A sheet number determining step for determining the number of print sheets of each type,
An overall surface that specifies the imposition layout of all pages of the input data based on the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit and the number of print sheets of each type determined in the sheet number determination step An overall imposition information determination step for generating imposition information;
A print data generation step for generating the print data based on the submitted data and the entire imposition information.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute a print control method according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention.

  Since other aspects of the present invention are clear from the above aspects of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments and modifications thereof, description thereof will be omitted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an imposition pattern (an arrangement position and orientation of each page to be impositioned and a sheet length of the print sheet) on a print sheet to be a signature used for bookbinding. The imposition template information is stored in the template storage unit for two or more types of print sheets having different numbers of pages to be impositioned. Each type of print sheet is assigned based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information. The sum of the product of the number of pages to be imposed and the number of print sheets of the type is equal to or greater than the total number of pages of the submitted data, and the difference between the total and the total number of pages is the two or more types of print sheets. The number of print sheets of each type is determined so as to be smaller than the minimum value of the number of pages to be imposed respectively. Overall imposition information is generated based on the number of print sheets of each type determined in this way and the imposition template information. Based on the entire imposition information and the submitted data, print data to be given to the printing press is determined. Generated. As described above, the entire imposition is determined using the imposition template information for two or more types of print sheets having different imposition pages, that is, two or more types of print sheets having different sheet lengths. It is possible to suppress or reduce the occurrence of waste paper while increasing the length.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of print sheets of each type is determined not only based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit but also based on a user input operation. Therefore, it is possible to determine the number of sheets used for each type of printing sheet in accordance with the user's intention according to individual circumstances such as a book to be created.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the entire imposition information is obtained by using the imposition template information for each of the two types of print sheets including the first and second print sheets stored in the template storage unit. The same effect as that of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained by generating the print data based on the generated overall imposition information and the submitted data.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the print sheets on which the first page and the last page in the submitted data are impositioned is an imposition page of the first and second print sheets. Since the number is larger, the print sheet having the longer sheet length among the first and second print sheets is arranged at least at the beginning and at the end of the entire imposition. Thereby, the intensity | strength of the produced bookbinding material improves.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the printed sheets on which the first page and the last page in the submitted data are impositioned are both the impositioned pages of the first and second print sheets. Since the number is larger, the overall imposition is determined so that the shorter one of the first and second print sheets is sandwiched between the longer print sheets. Thereby, the intensity | strength of the produced bookbinding material further improves.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of sheets of the first print sheet, the number of pages imposed on the second print sheet, and the second number. The number of first and second print sheets is determined so that the sum of the product of the print sheets and the number of print sheets becomes equal to the total number of pages of the submitted data. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of damaged paper without shortening the size of the print sheet to be used as a signature.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the number of pages imposed on each of the first and second print sheets is a multiple of 4, and the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the second Since the difference from the number of pages imposed on the print sheet is 4, when the total number of pages of the input data is a multiple of 4, without reducing the size of the print sheet to be a signature It is possible to reliably eliminate the occurrence of damaged paper (while increasing the size of the print sheet). In this case, since it is possible to automatically determine the overall imposition that does not cause loss of paper, the effect of saving the trouble of designing the entire imposition can also be obtained.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to maximize the number of print sheets with the larger number of pages imposed between the first and second print sheets while eliminating the occurrence of waste paper. The number of first and second print sheets is determined. Thereby, while obtaining the same effect as the seventh aspect of the present invention, the work efficiency in the post-processing is further improved, and the strength of the produced bookbinding is further increased.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the print data includes information indicating a cutting position for cutting a continuous recording medium into a size corresponding to two or more types of print sheets based on the entire imposition information. Therefore, it is possible to accurately perform a process of cutting a printed continuous recording medium into a size corresponding to the two or more types of print sheets in a subsequent process.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the printing press is provided with two or more paper feed units each holding two or more types of print sheets corresponding to the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit. The two or more paper supply units are switched so that the two or more types of print sheets are printed according to the print data based on the entire imposition information generated using the imposition template information. As a result, even when a printing press that prints on cut paper is used, the same effects as those of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention can be obtained.

  The effects of the other aspects of the present invention are apparent from the description of the effects of the above aspect of the present invention and the effects of the following embodiments and modifications thereof, and the description thereof will be omitted.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the whole system for producing a bookbinding product using the printing system provided with the execution management computer as a printing control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the inkjet printing apparatus in the said printing system. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the execution management computer as a printing control apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the printing control apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the 1st structural example (A) and 2nd structural example (B) of the imposition information generation part in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the imposition template production | generation process in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the input reception process in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the job process in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process in the printing machine controlled by the printing control apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the post-processing process with respect to the printed matter obtained by the said printing process. It is a figure for demonstrating the problem in the case of producing a bookbinding product using the conventional printing control apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows another example of the printing machine controlled by the printing control apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<1. Embodiment>
<1.1 Configuration of the entire system for creating a bookbinding product>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an entire system for creating a bookbinding product using a printing system including a printing control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this configuration example, the reception management computer 5, the execution management computer 10, the printing machine 20, and the post-processing machine 30 including the cutter device 32 and the folding device 34 are communicated via a network 3 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Connected as possible. The connection mode illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example. In the connection mode shown in FIG. 1, the execution management computer 10 is connected to the printing machine 20 via the network 3 and functions as a print control device as will be described later. Instead, it is dedicated to the computer as the print control device. The printer 20 may be connected via the communication cable, and the computer may be connected to the reception management computer or the like via the network 3 so as to be communicable.

  The reception management computer 5 manages print requests from the outside of the entire system, and holds data representing the contents of the requested print, request information, and the like.

  The execution management computer 10 manages execution of printing by the printing machine 20 and execution of post-processing by the post-processing machine 30 (cutting of paper by the cutter device 32 and folding by the folding device 34). In the execution of printing by the printing machine 20, it functions as a print control device. The execution management computer 10 and the printing machine 20 as the print control device constitute a printing system.

  The printing machine 20 performs printing on roll paper as continuous paper by an inkjet method. In a printing machine that uses roll paper, such as the printing machine 20, it is possible to easily set printing sheets having various sheet lengths in the transport direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printing machine 20 as such an inkjet printing apparatus. The printing machine 20 is connected to an execution management computer 10 serving as a printing control apparatus via a network 3, and includes a paper feeding unit 21 that supplies a printing paper (roll paper) 22 as a base material, and a printing paper 22. A first drive roller 23 for transporting the printing mechanism into the printing mechanism, a plurality of support rollers 24 for transporting the printing paper 22 inside the printing mechanism, and printing for performing printing by ejecting ink onto the printing paper 22 A second driving roller 28 for outputting the printing paper 22 from the inside of the printing mechanism, and a paper winding unit 29 for winding up the printing paper 22 after printing. In this way, the first drive roller 23 and the paper take-up unit 29 convey the printing paper 22 from the paper delivery unit 21 toward the paper take-up unit 29 in a constant conveyance direction. The printing unit 25 includes a C inkjet head 25c, an M inkjet head 25m, a Y inkjet head 25y, and a Y inkjet head 25y that respectively eject C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) inks. And a K inkjet head 25k. An ink tank (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to the inkjet heads 25c, 25m, 25y, and 25k is also provided inside the printing mechanism.

  The execution management computer 10 as a print control apparatus controls the operation of the printing press 20 configured as described above. When a print output instruction command is given to the execution management computer 10, the execution management computer 10 controls the operation of the printing machine 20 so that the printing paper 22 is conveyed from the paper feeding unit 21 to the paper winding unit 29. . In the process of transporting the printing paper 22, first, printing is performed by discharging ink from the inkjet heads 25 c, 25 m, 25 y, and 25 k in the printing unit 25.

<1.2 Configuration and Operation of Print Control Device>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the execution management computer 10. The execution management computer 10 is a control device that manages the execution of various devices (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the printing machine 20, the cutter device 32, the folding device 34, etc.) by switching the program executed by the CPU. Function. The reception management computer 5 can also be a computer having the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the execution management computer 10 includes a main body 11, an auxiliary storage device 12, an optical disk drive 13, a display device 14, a keyboard 15, a mouse 16, and the like. The main body 11 includes a CPU 111, a memory 112, a first disk interface unit 113, a second disk interface unit 114, a display control unit 115, an input interface unit 116, a network interface unit 117, and an output interface unit 118. The CPU 111, the memory 112, the first disk interface unit 113, the second disk interface unit 114, the display control unit 115, the input interface unit 116, the network interface unit 117, and the output interface unit 118 are connected to each other via a system bus. Yes. The auxiliary storage device 12 is connected to the first disk interface unit 113. The second disk interface unit 114 is connected to the optical disk drive 13. A display device 14 is connected to the display control unit 115. A keyboard 15 and a mouse 16 are connected to the input interface unit 116. A network 3 is connected to the network interface unit 117. The printing machine 20 is connected to the output interface unit 118 via a communication cable. The auxiliary storage device 12 is a magnetic disk device or the like. An optical disc 17 as a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) is inserted into the optical disc drive 13. The display device 14 is a liquid crystal display or the like. The display device 14 is used to display information desired by the operator. The keyboard 15 and the mouse 16 are used for an operator to input instructions to the execution management computer 10.

  The auxiliary storage device 12 stores a control program 18 for managing execution of processing by a device targeted by the execution management computer 10. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a control program (hereinafter referred to as “printing control program”) 18 for managing execution of printing processing by the printing machine 20 is stored in the auxiliary storage device. The CPU 111 implements various functions of the print control apparatus by executing the print control program 18 stored in the auxiliary storage device 12 in the memory 112. The memory 112 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory 112 functions as a work area for the CPU 111 to execute the print control program 18 stored in the auxiliary storage device 12. The print control program 18 is provided by being stored in an optical disc such as the above-mentioned DVD, for example. That is, the user purchases an optical disc or the like as a recording medium for the print control program 18 and inserts it into the optical disc drive 13, reads the print control program 18 from the optical disc 17 and installs it in the auxiliary storage device 12. Alternatively, the print control program 18 transmitted via the network 3 may be received and installed in the auxiliary storage device 12.

  The print control apparatus according to the present embodiment is realized as software by the CPU 111 executing the print control program 18 in the execution management computer 10 having the above-described configuration. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the print control apparatus (indicated by the same reference numeral “10” as that of the execution management computer). As shown in FIG. 4, the print control apparatus 10 functionally includes an input receiving unit 120, a job processing unit 140, and a template storage unit 160.

  The input reception unit 120 receives and holds the submission data Dd representing the print target (contents to be printed on the book to be created) from the reception management computer 5. The submitted data Dd includes a plurality of page data representing print targets. The input receiving unit 120 extracts the page data Dpg from the submitted data Dd, and obtains the number of pages of the submitted data Dd (hereinafter referred to as “total number of pages” to be distinguished from the number of pages in a print sheet described later). . The page data Dpg and the total page number Npg are input to the job processing unit 140.

  The template storage unit 160 has an imposition pattern indicating the position and orientation of each page to be impositioned on one print sheet for two or more types of print sheets to be used as signatures used for creating a bookbinding product. The imposition information Dflyk and the sheet length Sizk (length in the transport direction of the printed sheet) are stored (k = 1, 2,...). In a conventional print job for creating a bookbinding product, only one type of print sheet (a print sheet of the same size, that is, a print sheet having the same number of pages to be imposed) is used. In one print job in the embodiment, two or more types of print sheets are used. For example, two types including a first print sheet having 16 pages to be impositioned (hereinafter referred to as “imposition page number”) and a second print sheet having 12 imposition pages. Print sheets are used. Data consisting of imposition information Dflyk indicating the imposition pattern of two or more kinds of printing sheets and sheet length Sizk (k = 1, 2,...) (Hereinafter referred to as “sheet imposition information”) Dtp It is generated by an imposition template generation process described later (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the job processing unit 140 includes an imposition information generation unit 142, a rasterization processing unit 144, and a print execution instruction unit 146. The imposition information generating unit 142 receives the total page number Npg of the submitted data Dd from the input receiving unit 120, and imposition information of two or more types of print sheets to be used in the print job corresponding to the submitted data Dd. Dflyk and sheet length Sizk are read from the template storage unit 160 as imposition template information Dtpk and submitted based on the total number of pages Npg and the two or more types of imposition template information Dtpk (imposition information Dflyk and sheet length Sizk). The entire imposition information Dly indicating the imposition layout of all pages of the data Dd is generated (details of this generation process will be described later).

  The rasterization processing unit 144 receives the overall imposition information Dly from the imposition information generation unit 142, receives the page data Dpg from the input reception unit 120, and performs rasterization processing on the page data Dpg based on the entire imposition information Dly. Then, raster data (hereinafter referred to as “target raster data”) Drs, which is bitmap format data representing a print target, is generated.

  When the target raster data Drs is generated based on the submitted data Dd in the input receiving unit 120 in this way, the print execution instruction unit 146 displays the target raster data Drs and the imposition information generation unit 142 as a whole. The imposition information Dly is received and transmitted to the printing machine 20 as print data Dpr whose data format is changed as necessary. At this time, a printing execution control signal Cex1 for controlling the printing press 20 is also transmitted from the printing execution instruction unit 146 to the printing press 20. The print execution instruction unit 146 and the rasterization processing unit 144 described above constitute a print data generation unit.

  The printing machine 20 receives the print data Dpr from the print control apparatus 10 and performs a printing process based on the print data Dpr. As shown in FIG. 4, the printing machine 20 is functionally provided with a printing unit 210 including a post-processing information printing unit 212, and in addition to printing the page data Dpg in the submitted data Dd, if necessary. Thus, post-processing information based on the entire imposition information Dly is printed. For example, the printing machine 20 uses, as post-processing information, a mark indicating a position (hereinafter referred to as a “cutting position”) for cutting the printed roll paper by the cutter device 32, information on a print sheet length for specifying the cutting position, and the like. Printing is performed (see FIG. 12 described later). Instead of printing such post-processing information, the post-processing information to be referred to by the post-processing machine 30 such as the cutter device 32 is used as, for example, a post-processing execution control signal Cex2 (part thereof). 30 may be transmitted.

  Next, the configuration of the imposition information generation unit 142 in the print control apparatus 10 as described above will be described.

  FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating a first configuration example of the imposition information generation unit 142. The imposition information generation unit 142 according to this configuration example includes a sheet number determination unit 152 and an overall imposition information determination unit 154. The total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd is input from the input reception unit 120 to the sheet number determination unit 152, and the sheet lengths Siz1 of the first and second print sheets determined in advance from the template storage unit 160 are input. Siz2 is input. The number-of-sheets determination unit 152 calculates the total number of pages imposed on the first and second print sheets to be used (the number of imposition pages of each of the first and second print sheets and the number of the print sheets). The total number Np1 of the first print sheets by a predetermined calculation process based on the total page number Npg and the sheet lengths Siz1, Siz2 so that Nsum becomes equal to the total page number Npg of the input data Dd. The number Np2 of the second print sheets is determined (details will be described later).

  The total imposition information determination unit 154 receives the numbers Np1 and Np2 of the first and second print sheets, and the imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2 of the first and second print sheets from the template storage unit. Entered. The overall imposition information determination unit 154 identifies the imposition layout of all pages of the submitted data Dd based on the number Np1 and Np2 of the first and second print sheets and the imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2. The attached information Dly is generated (details will be described later (see FIG. 12)).

  FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating a second configuration example of the imposition information generation unit 142. The imposition information generation unit 142 according to this configuration example also includes a sheet number determination unit 152b and an overall imposition information determination unit 154. However, the sheet number determination unit 152b in the present configuration example is different from the sheet number determination unit 152 in the first configuration example, and the sheet length input to the sheet number determination unit 152b is not determined in advance, and the user A plurality of sheet lengths are selected by designating two or more types of print sheets by a predetermined input selection operation (such as the keyboard 15 and mouse 16 of the execution management computer 10 as a print control apparatus). For example, when the first to third print sheets are designated by the user among the print sheets in which imposition patterns are stored in the template storage unit 160 in advance, the sheet lengths Siz1 of the first to third print sheets are set. Siz2 and Siz3 are selected. The sheet number determination unit 152b uses the total number of pages (first to third) to be imposed on the first to third print sheets when the first to third print sheets designated here are used. The sum of the product of the number of imposition pages of each print sheet and the number of the print sheets) Nsum is equal to or greater than the total page number Npg of the submitted data Dd, and the difference between the total Nsum and the total page number Npg is as small as possible. As described above, the number Np1 of the first print sheets, the number Np2 of the second print sheets, and the number Np3 of the third print sheets are determined. For example, the number of first to third print sheets Np1, Np2, so that the difference between the sum Nsum and the total page number Npg is smaller than the minimum number of imposition pages of the first to third print sheets. Np3 is determined. Note that the sheet number determination unit 152b may be configured to determine the number Np1, Np2, Np3 of the first to third print sheets based on a predetermined input selection operation by the user.

  The overall imposition information determination unit 154 receives the numbers Np1, Np2, and Np3 of the first to third print sheets, and the imposition information Dfly1, Np1 of the first to third print sheets from the template storage unit. Dfly2 and Dfly3 are input. The overall imposition information determination unit 154 determines the imposition layout of all pages of the submitted data Dd based on the number Np1, Np2, Np3 of the first to third print sheets and the imposition information Dfly1, Dfly2, Dfly3. The overall imposition information Dly to be identified is generated (details will be described later (see FIG. 12)).

<1.2.1 Imposition template generation processing>
Next, the imposition template information Dtpk (k = 1, 2, and the imposition information Dflyk and the sheet length Sizk of two or more kinds of print sheets to be stored in the template storage unit 160 in the print control apparatus 10 as described above. The imposition template generation process for creating (...) will be described. In this embodiment, a program for this imposition template processing is included in the print control program, and this imposition template processing is executed before the overall imposition information Dly based on the submitted data Dd is generated. The As a result, imposition template information Dtpk corresponding to the submitted data Dd is generated and stored in the template storage unit 160. However, instead of this, this imposition template generation processing is executed by the reception management computer 5, and the imposition template information Dtpk generated there is sent to the print control apparatus 10 and stored in the template storage unit 160. There may be.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the imposition template generation processing. When creating one imposition template information Dtpk necessary for printing based on the new submission data Dd, the CPU of the reception management computer 5 operates as follows.

  First, an imposition pattern addition / editing window on the print sheet is displayed (step S102). Next, it is determined whether or not to edit the existing imposition pattern based on the user's operation on the addition / edit window (step S104). As a result of the determination, if the existing imposition pattern is not edited, the imposition pattern is added (step S106). In this case, a data area for imposition template information Dtpk for the new imposition pattern is secured, and the process proceeds to the next step S108 with the new imposition pattern as the “target imposition pattern”. As a result of the determination in step S104, when an existing imposition pattern is edited, the existing imposition pattern is set as the target imposition pattern, and the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, a user input operation for specifying the sheet length Sizk of the target imposition pattern is accepted (step S108). Next, the user's input operation for designating the imposition layout of the target imposition pattern is accepted (step S110). Thereby, imposition information Dflyk is generated. Thereafter, the data including the imposition information Dflyk of the target imposition pattern and the sheet length Sizk is stored as imposition template information Dtpk (step S112).

  In the present embodiment, the template generation process (FIG. 6) is executed as many times as the number of types of print sheets used in the printing process of the submitted data Dd.

<1.2.2 Input acceptance processing>
Next, an input receiving process for realizing the input receiving unit 120 in the print control apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 as software in the execution management computer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing this input receiving process. In this input reception process, the CPU 111 operates as follows according to a predetermined program included in the above-described print control program.

  When the submission data Dd is sent from the reception management computer 5 to the execution management computer 10 via the network 3, the submission data Dd is received and held (step S202). Next, data (text data, image data, illustration data, etc.) representing the printing target is collected as page data Dpg in the submitted data among the submitted data Dd (step S204). Thereafter, the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd is acquired, and the input receiving process is terminated (step S206). The submitted data Dd is given to the job processing unit 140 as page data Dpg, and the total page number Npg is also given to the job processing unit 140 (see FIG. 4).

<1.2.3 Job processing>
Next, job processing for realizing the job processing unit 140 in the print control apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 as software in the execution management computer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing this job processing. In this job processing, the CPU 111 operates as follows according to a predetermined program included in the above-described print control program.

  When the above-described input reception process is performed on new submitted data Dd, the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd is received (step S302). Next, imposition template information Dtpk (k = 1, 2,...) Indicating imposition patterns of two or more types of print sheets corresponding to the submitted data Dd is read from the template storage unit 160 (step S304). Thereafter, the number of used sheets of the two or more types of printing sheets, that is, the number of used printing sheets of each imposition pattern is determined (step S306). The contents of step S306 will be described in detail. In the following description, two types of print sheets including a first print sheet having a sheet length of Siz1 and a second print sheet having a sheet length of Siz2 correspond to the input data Dd. It is assumed that the imposition template information Dtp1 and Dtp2 of the print sheet is stored in the template storage unit 160.

  Now, 2 pages (4 pages when the front and back pages are combined) can be arranged in the width direction of the imposition of the first print sheet and the second print sheet, that is, the number of pages Wpg that can be arranged with respect to the paper width is 4. Suppose it is a page. Further, the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd is 160, the number of imposition pages of the first print sheet is 12 (see the imposition layout in FIG. 11B), and the second print sheet It is assumed that the number of imposition pages is 8 (see the imposition layout in FIG. 11C). The total page number Npg is the number of pages Wpg that can be arranged with respect to the paper width, that is, a multiple of 4, and the total page number Npg = 160 in this example is also a multiple of 4. The number of imposition pages (12, 8) of the first and second print sheets is also a multiple of 4, and the number of imposition pages (12) of the first print sheet and the imposition pages of the second print sheet The difference from the number (8) is 4. From this, it is possible to obtain the number n1 of the first printing sheets and the number n2 of the second printing sheets used in the following manner so that no waste paper is generated.

In general, it is preferable that the signature is heavier. Therefore, it is preferable to increase the number of printed sheets having a longer sheet length (the first printed sheet in this example). Considering this point,
12 × 14 = 168, 12 × 13 = 156
Therefore, it can be considered that the number of used first print sheets with 12 imposition pages is 14. However, if only the 14 first print sheets are used, 12 × 14 = 168> Npg = 160, and a waste paper is generated. Therefore, when using two second print sheets with imposition pages of 8 and reducing the number of first print sheets with imposition pages of 12 by 2,
12 × 12 + 8 × 2 = 160 (= Npg)
Thus, no waste paper is generated. That is, the sum (160) of imposition pages in the 12 first print sheets and the 2nd second print sheets is equal to the total number of pages of the submitted data Dd.

More generally, the number of imposition pages of the first and second print sheets is m1 and m2, respectively, and Npg, m1 and m2 are multiples of the number of pages Wpg (4) that can be arranged with respect to the paper width. Assuming that m1−m2 = Wpg (4), the number Np1 and Np2 of the first and second print sheets that do not generate damaged paper is obtained by the following procedures (P1) to (P3). be able to. According to the following procedures (P1) to (P3), the number of print sheets having the longer sheet length of the first and second print sheets is maximized under the condition that no waste paper is generated.
(P1): The number (temporary number) Nt1 of first print sheets satisfying m1 × Nt1 ≧ Npg and m1 × (Nt1-1) <Npg is obtained.
(P2): Δn = (m1 × Nt1−Npg) / Wpg (4) is obtained.
(P3): Np1 = Nt1−Δn and Np2 = Δn to determine the number of first and second printed sheets Np1 and Np2.

  When the number of used sheets of the first and second printing sheets (the number of sheets used for each imposition pattern) Np1 and Np2 is determined as described above, the number of used sheets of the first and second printing sheets is then determined. Based on Np1, Np2 and imposition information Dfly1, Dfly2, the entire imposition information Dly for specifying the imposition layout of all pages of the submitted data Dd, that is, the entire imposition is generated.

  In the present embodiment, the imposition patterns in the first and second print sheets are determined in advance as described above (imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2 of the first and second print sheets are generated in advance). Since printing is performed on roll paper as continuous paper (see FIG. 2), if the one-dimensional arrangement order of Np1 first print sheets and Np2 second print sheets is determined, the entire imposition is performed. Is determined. In general, from the viewpoint of the strength of the bookbinding product to be produced, it is preferable that the arrangement order is such that a printing sheet having a short sheet length is sandwiched between printing sheets having a long sheet length. Therefore, in this embodiment, the shorter one of the first and second print sheets (hereinafter referred to as “short sheet”) is sandwiched between the longer print sheets (hereinafter referred to as “long sheet”). Imposition is determined. For this purpose, in the one-dimensional arrangement of Np1 first print sheets and Np2 second print sheets that determine the overall imposition, long sheets may be arranged at the head and tail. . However, depending on the situation, the long sheet may be arranged only at either the head or the tail in the one-dimensional arrangement. For example, when the number of used long sheets determined by the procedures (P1) to (P2) (the number of print sheets having the longer sheet length among the first and second print sheets) is one, The long sheet should just be arrange | positioned in any one of the head and the tail in the said one-dimensional arrangement | positioning.

For example, imposition template information Dtp1 and Dtp2 for a first print sheet having 16 imposition pages and a second print sheet having 12 imposition pages is read from the template storage unit 160, and the total pages If printing based on the submitted data Dd with the number Npg being 100 is performed, since 16 × 4 + 12 × 3 = 100, Np1 = 4 and Np2 = 3 are obtained in step S306 and determined in step S308. Three examples of the following arrangements (L1) to (L3) are conceivable as the one-dimensional arrangement of the first and second print sheets that specify the overall imposition to be performed. In the following arrangement notation, “S1 (16)” indicates the first print sheet, and “S2 (14)” indicates the second print sheet.
(L1): S1 (16) → S1 (16) → S1 (16) → S2 (12) → S2 (12) → S2 (12) → S1 (16)
(L2): S1 (16) → S2 (12) → S2 (12) → S2 (12) → S1 (16) → S1 (16) → S1 (16)
(L3): S1 (16) → S2 (12) → S1 (16) → S2 (12) → S1 (16) → S2 (12) → S1 (16)
Note that, from the viewpoint of throughput in creating a bookbinding product, it is preferable that the same type of printing sheets (printing sheets having the same sheet length) be arranged so as to be continuous. From this viewpoint, it can be said that (L1) and (L2) are more preferable than (L3) among the entire impositions (L1) to (L3). Further, the entire imposition in this case is not limited to the above arrangements (L1) to (L3), and the first print sheet as a long sheet is arranged at the beginning and the end even in other arrangements. It only has to be done.

  When the overall imposition information Dly for specifying the overall imposition as described above is generated, a bit representing a print target is obtained by performing rasterization processing on the page data Dpg of the submitted data Dd based on the entire imposition information Dly. Map-format data is generated as raster data (target raster data) Drs (step S310).

  Thereafter, the target raster data Drs and the entire imposition information Dly are transmitted to the printing machine 20 as print data Dpr whose data format is changed as necessary. At this time, a print execution control signal Cex1 for controlling the printing press 20 is also transmitted from the printing control apparatus 10 to the printing press 20. Thereby, the printing machine 20 is instructed to print by the print data Dpr.

  Among the job processes as described above, the imposition information generation unit 142 in the job processing unit 140 is realized by steps S302 to S308, the rasterization processing unit 144 is performed by step S310, and the print execution instruction unit 146 is performed by step S312. , Respectively (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, the sheet number determination unit 152 in the imposition information generation unit 142 is realized by steps S302 to S306, and the entire imposition information determination unit 154 in the imposition information generation unit 142 is realized by steps S304 and S308 (FIG. 5 (A)).

<1.3 Printing process>
Next, a printing process based on the print execution control signal Cex1 using the target raster data Drs received from the print control apparatus 10 in the printing machine 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing this printing process.

  When the print data Dpr obtained by the job processing (see FIGS. 8 and 4) in the execution management computer 10 as the print control apparatus is transmitted to the printing press 20 together with the print execution control signal Cex1, the printing press 20 is as follows. To work.

  First, the print data Dpr is received together with the print execution control signal Cex1 (step S402). Based on the print execution control signal Cex1, it is determined whether or not post-processing information is read from the printed material in the post-processing (step S404). Here, the post-processing process is a process performed after the printing process in the printing machine 20 until the bookbinding product is completed. For example, the cutting process is performed by the cutter device 32, the folding process is performed by the folding device 34, and the like. . The post-processing information is position information for processing in the post-processing, and for example, the rolled paper (continuous paper) after printing is cut by the cutter device 32 into the sheet length Sizk indicated by the entire imposition information Dly. Information indicating a position (cutting position) and information indicating a folding method such as a folding position in the folding processing.

  As a result of the determination in step S404, when the post-processing information is read from the printed material in the post-processing, the post-processing information is received from the execution management computer 10 as the print control apparatus (step S406). However, if the post-processing information is included in the print data Dpr received in step S402, the post-processing information is extracted from the print data Dpr. Next, processing information is then printed (step S408), and then the process proceeds to step S410.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S404, if the post-processing information is not read from the printed material in the post-processing, the process proceeds to step S410 without printing the post-processing information.

  In step S410, image data in the print data Dpr (bitmap format image data corresponding to the submitted data Dd) is printed (step S410). Thereby, the printing process corresponding to one print job is completed.

<1.4 Post-processing>
Next, a post-processing process performed by the post-processing machine 30 including the cutter device 32 and the folding device 34 is performed on the roll paper (hereinafter referred to as “printed roll paper”) subjected to the printing process in the printing machine 20. This will be described with reference to FIG. However, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the post-processing process includes only a cutting process by the cutter device 32 and a folding process by the folding device 34 (see FIG. 1).

  The execution management computer 10 functions as a post-processing control device that manages processing in the post-processing machine by the CPU 111 executing another predetermined control program instead of the print control program. The execution management computer 10 serving as a post-processing control device is configured so that the printed roll paper is mounted at a predetermined position for starting the post-processing at the end of the printing process in the printing machine 20 (at the end of the printing process). The execution control signal Cex2 is transmitted to the post-processing machine 30. When the execution control signal Cex2 is transmitted, the post-processing machine 30 operates as follows.

  First, the execution control signal Cex2 is received (step S502). Next, based on the execution control signal Cex2, it is determined whether or not the post-processing information is read from the printed material (printed roll paper) in the post-processing (step S504).

  As a result of the determination in step S504, when the post-processing information is read from the printed material in the post-processing, the entire imposition information Dly indicates the printed roll paper by the cutter device 32, for example, as shown in FIG. A mark indicating a cutting position for cutting to the sheet length Sizk is printed as a barcode BC (see step S408 in FIG. 9). In step S506, the post-processing information reading unit 302 (see FIG. 4) in the post-processing machine 30 reads such post-processing information from the printed roll paper as a printed material (step S506). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S510.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S504, if the post-processing information is not read from the printed material in the post-processing, the post-processing is performed from the execution management computer 10 as the post-processing control device via the network 3 or other communication cable. Information is received (step S508). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S510.

  In step S510, the cutter device 32 as the processing unit 304 (see FIG. 4) in the post-processing machine 30 cuts the printed roll paper according to the post-processing information (for example, at the cutting position indicated by the barcode BC in FIG. 12). . As a result, the sheet is cut into two or more types of sheet lengths Sizk (k = 1, 2,...) Indicated by the overall imposition information Dly generated in step S308 of FIG. 8, and two or more types of printed sheets are obtained. For example, in the case of the entire imposition shown in FIG. 12, four first print sheets having a sheet length of Siz1 (the number of imposition pages is 16) are obtained, and the sheet length is Siz2 (the number of imposition pages is 12). 3) are obtained.

  Next, in step S512, the folding device 34 performs a folding process according to the post-processing information on each of the two or more types of print sheets obtained by the cutting process by the cutter device 32 (step S512). Thereby, two or more types of signatures are obtained. For example, in the case of the overall imposition shown in FIG. 12, four signatures based on the first imposition layout (Dfly1: imposition page number = 16) and the second imposition layout (Dfly2: imposition page). Three signatures based on the number = 12) are obtained.

  The post-processing shown in FIG. 10 is completed by executing step S512. However, in practice, a plurality of signatures are stacked in a predetermined order by the collating machine, and a plurality of signatures are then collected by the binding machine. After the binding, the three-way cutting is performed based on the cutting information by the cutting machine, and the bookbinding product is completed. Since these post-processing processes are the same as those in the prior art, detailed description is omitted.

<1.5 Effect>
Hereinafter, the effects of the present embodiment as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a problem when a bookbinding product is created using a conventional print control apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an effect of the present embodiment.

  In the conventional print control apparatus, the sheet length in one print job is fixed, and the sizes (and hence the number of imposition pages) of all the print sheets that should become signatures are the same. FIG. 11 shows imposition layouts when the sheet length (print sheet size) Siz is changed when a bookbinding product in which the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd is 100 is created using a conventional print control apparatus. The overall imposition is shown schematically. FIG. 11A shows an outline of an imposition layout and overall imposition when the sheet length Siz1 corresponds to a print sheet with 16 imposition pages, and FIG. 11B shows a print with 12 imposition pages. FIG. 11C schematically shows the imposition layout and overall imposition when the sheet length is Siz2 corresponding to the sheet, and FIG. 11C shows the imposition layout when the sheet length is Siz3 corresponding to the printed sheet having eight imposition pages. FIG. 11D shows an outline of the entire imposition, and FIG. 11D shows an outline of the imposition layout and the entire imposition when the sheet length is Siz4 corresponding to a print sheet having four imposition pages.

  In FIG. 11, Ljob indicates the length of the paper (roll paper) used in one print job, and the hatched area of the hatched dotted line indicates the total number Npg of the submitted data Dd among the paper of length Ljob. A portion corresponding to (= 100) is shown, and a non-hatched area of the paper of length Ljob (roll paper) indicates a non-printed portion of paper used in one print job, that is, a waste paper. In FIG. 11, a rectangle with cross hatching indicates a barcode BC as post-processing information indicating a cutting position by the cutter device 32. In the cutter device 32, the roll paper is cut at the position indicated by the barcode BC, that is, the position of the thick vertical dotted line in FIG. Such an expression method in FIG. 11 is also used in FIG.

  As described above, in order to increase the weight of one signature, it is preferable to increase the sheet length of the printed sheet from the viewpoint of workability in post-processing and the strength of the bookbinding product. However, as can be seen from FIGS. 11A to 11D, when the number of imposition pages of one printing sheet increases by increasing the sheet length, the amount of waste paper increases.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, imposition template information Dtpk (k = 1, 2,...) Indicating imposition patterns of two or more types of print sheets is used for one print job (submission data Dd). Thus, the entire imposition is determined (S304 to S308 in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8), so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damaged paper while increasing the sheet length of the print sheet. For example, two types of imposition patterns shown as the imposition layout in FIG. 12A, that is, a first imposition pattern with a sheet length Siz1 and the number of imposition pages of 16, and a sheet length Siz2 and the number of imposition pages of twelve. If the second imposition pattern is used, the number Np1 of the first printed sheet of the first imposition pattern and the second imposition for the submitted data Dd with the total number of pages Npg of 100. The number of used second print sheets Np2 of the pattern is determined as Np1 = 4 and Np2 = 3 (see the above-described procedures (P1) to (P3)). In this case, as shown in FIG. 12A, no waste paper is generated, and the sheet lengths of the first and second print sheets are also Siz1 (corresponding to imposition page number 16) and Siz2 (imposition page number 12), respectively. It is relatively long. FIG. 12B shows details of the layout in a portion where the first print sheet and the second print sheet are mixed in the entire imposition.

  In this way, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the sheet length of the printed sheet while suppressing the occurrence of damaged paper in printing for producing a bookbinding product. Thus, by increasing the weight of one signature, the workability in the post-process for creating a bookbinding product is improved and the strength of the bookbinding product is also increased. Note that it is possible to automatically determine the overall imposition that does not cause loss of paper based on the above-described procedures (P1) to (P3), and it is possible to obtain the effect of saving the trouble of designing the entire imposition. Further, as in the above-described procedures (P1) to (P3), the number of sheets having a long sheet length is preferentially increased among two or more types of print sheets prepared for the submitted data Dd. It is preferable that the number of print sheets used be determined. If it does in this way, the workability | operativity in a post-process process and the intensity | strength of bookbinding will further improve.

  According to the present embodiment, as can be seen from the overall imposition outline shown in FIG. 12A, the shorter one of the first and second print sheets (short sheet) is the longer print sheet ( The entire imposition is determined so as to be sandwiched between the long sheets (see the arrangements (L1) to (L3) described above). This is effective in increasing the strength of the bookbinding product, and makes it possible to create a stronger bookbinding product.

<2. Modification>
The print control apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment is intended for the printing machine 20 that performs printing on roll paper as continuous paper. However, by switching two or more types of cut papers having different sizes (sheet lengths), printing is performed. A printing machine corresponding to a plurality of imposition patterns (imposition layouts) may be targeted. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of such a printing machine 20b. The printing machine 20b feeds paper from two paper feed cassettes including a first paper feed cassette 81 and a second paper feed cassette 82, and one of the first and second paper feed cassettes 81 and 82. A printing mechanism 84 for printing on cut paper, and the cassette fed to the printing mechanism 84 can be switched between the first paper feeding cassette 81 and the second paper feeding cassette 82. ing. In such a printing machine 20b, the same effect as that of the above embodiment is obtained by switching between the first paper feed cassette 81 and the second paper feed cassette 82 based on the entire imposition determined in step S308 of FIG. Is obtained. When the print control apparatus 10 according to the above embodiment targets the printing machine 20b as described above, the print execution instruction unit 146 assigns the first and second paper feed cassettes 81 and 82 to the entire imposition information Dly. It is preferable to generate the print data Dpr so that control information for switching based on is included.

  The print control apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment is intended for the inkjet-type printing machine 20, but may be a printing machine of another type as long as it is a printing machine capable of variable printing. For example, unlike an ink jet method in which ink is directly attached to a recording medium such as paper, a transfer method printing in which ink is attached to a recording medium such as paper from the intermediate transfer member after the ink is attached onto the intermediate transfer member. It may be a machine.

In the above embodiment, when the number of imposition pages of the first and second print sheets prepared for the submitted data Dd is m1 and m2, respectively, the total page number Npg and the number of imposition pages m1 and m2 Is a method of determining the number Np1 and Np2 of the first and second print sheets that do not generate any loss paper on the assumption that both are multiples of 4 and m1−m2 = 4 ( The above-described embodiment may be a configuration that does not provide this premise, or may be a configuration that allows some damaged paper (see the above-described procedures (P1) to (P3)). For example, based on the number of imposition pages of two or more types of print sheets prepared for the submitted data Dd, the product of the number of pages imposed on each type of print sheet and the number of print sheets of that type The total sum Nsum is equal to or larger than the total page number Npg of the submitted data Dd, and the difference between the total Nsum and the total page number Npg is smaller than the minimum value of the imposition pages of the two or more types of print sheets. The number of print sheets of each type may be determined. For example, the first print sheet in which 3 pages are allocated in the width direction of the print sheet, the number of imposition pages is 3 × 3 × 2 = 18, and the second is the number of imposition pages is 3 × 2 × 2 = 12. When the print sheet is prepared for the submitted data Dd, the first print sheet is prioritized to increase the number of used first print sheets (long sheets) over the total number of pages Npg = 100. The number of used sheets may be Np1 = 5, and the number of used second print sheets may be Np2 = 1. in this case,
18 × 5 + 12 × 1 = 102> Npg = 100
Thus, although two pages of damaged paper are generated, the effect of improving workability in post-processing and the strength of the bookbinding product can be obtained as in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, (two or more types) of print sheets to be used for a print job corresponding to the submitted data Dd are determined in advance, and the number of pages that can be arranged with respect to the paper width (hereinafter “number of pages in the width direction”). Wpg is also determined in advance. However, when new submission data Dd is received by the input reception unit 120, the imposition information generation unit 142 in the job processing unit 140 receives the page size Psz together with the total number of pages Npg of the submission data Dd, and the sheet The width direction page number Wpg, which is the number of pages that can be arranged with respect to the width, may be determined, and the imposition template information Dtpk of the print sheet to be used may be determined based on the width direction page number Wpg. Hereinafter, a print control apparatus having such a configuration will be described as a modification of the above-described embodiment. Note that, in the configuration of this modification, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as those of the above-described embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Assuming that the imposition information generation unit 142 includes a sheet number determination unit 152 and an overall imposition information determination unit 154 as shown in FIG. 5A, in this modification, the sheet number determination unit 152 receives an input. The page size Psz and the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd are input from the unit 120, and the imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2 and the sheet length Siz1 determined in advance from the template storage unit 160 are first and second print sheets. , Siz2 are input. The number-of-sheets determination unit 152 determines the sheet width of the print sheet 22 as a continuous sheet (width in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction) from the page size Psz and the imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2 of the first and second print sheets. The number of pages in the width direction Wpg, which is the number of pages that can be arranged, is obtained. For example, the page size Psz of the submitted data Dd is an A4 portrait page, and two pages can be arranged in the imposition width direction of the first print sheet and the second print sheet (4 pages when the front and back pages are combined) In this case, the width direction page number Wpg is determined to be four pages. On the other hand, even if the paper width is the same, if the page size Psz of the submitted data Dd is an A5 vertically long page, the width direction page number Wpg is determined to be 6 pages. Next, the sheet number determination unit 152 determines the total number of pages imposed on the first and second print sheets to be used (first and second) based on the width-direction page number Wpg thus determined. The total number of pages Npg and the sheet length Siz1, so that Nsum is equal to the total number of pages Npg of the submitted data Dd. The number Np1 of the first print sheets and the number Np2 of the second print sheets are determined by a predetermined calculation process based on Siz2 (details are the same as those in the above-described embodiment or its modification). Other configurations and operations in the present modification are the same as those in the above embodiment. Also in such a modification, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the processing for one submission data Dd in one print job has been described. However, a plurality of submission data (a plurality of files) may be included in one print job.

10 ... execution management computer (printing control device)
17: Optical disc (computer-readable recording medium)
18 ... Printing control program 20, 20b ... Printing machine 22 ... Printing paper (roll paper)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Post-processing machine 120 ... Input reception part 140 ... Job processing part 142 ... Imposition information generation part 144 ... Rasterization processing part 146 ... Print execution instruction part 152, 152b ... Sheet number determination part 154 ... Whole imposition information determination part 160 ... template storage part Dd ... submission data Dpg ... page data (print image data for each page of the submission data)
Dtp ... Sheet inner surface information Dtpk ... Imposition template information (k = 1, 2, ...)
Dflyk: Imposition information (k = 1, 2,...)
Dly ... Whole imposition information Sizk ... Sheet length (k = 1, 2, ...)
Dpr ... Print data Npg ... Total number of pages of submitted data Psz ... Page size of submitted data Wpg ... Number of pages that can be arranged relative to paper width

Claims (16)

A print control apparatus that receives submission data in a print job for bookbinding and generates print data to be given to a printing machine based on the submission data,
Two or more types of imposition template information indicating the arrangement position and orientation of each page to be imprinted on a print sheet to be used as a signature used for bookbinding and the sheet length of the print sheet with different numbers of pages to be impositioned A template storage unit storing each print sheet,
Based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information as the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets, the number of pages imposed on each type of print sheet and the number of print sheets of that type The sum of the products is equal to or greater than the total number of pages of the submitted data, and the difference between the total and the total number of pages is smaller than the minimum value of the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets. A sheet number determining unit for determining the number of print sheets of each type,
An overall surface that specifies the imposition layout of all pages of the input data based on the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit and the number of print sheets of each type determined by the sheet number determination unit An overall imposition information determination unit for generating imposition information;
A print control apparatus comprising: a print data generation unit that generates the print data based on the submitted data and the overall imposition information.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet number determination unit determines the number of print sheets of each type based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information and a user input operation.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the template storage unit stores imposition template information for each of two types of print sheets including the first and second print sheets.   The overall imposition information determination unit is configured such that at least one of the print sheets on which the first page and the last page in the submitted data are impositioned is an imposition page of the first and second print sheets. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the overall imposition information is generated so as to have a larger number.   The overall imposition information determination unit is configured such that a print sheet on which the first page and the last page in the submission data are impositioned is an imposition page of the first and second print sheets. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the overall imposition information is generated so as to have a larger number.   The sheet number determination unit includes a product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, the number of pages imposed on the second print sheet, and the second The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that a sum of products of the print sheets and the number of print sheets is equal to the total number of pages. The number of pages imposed on each of the first and second print sheets is a multiple of 4, and the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the second print sheet are imposed. The difference from the number of pages is 4,
The sheet number determination unit, when the total number of pages is a multiple of 4, the product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, and the second The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that a sum of products with the number of pages imposed on the print sheet is equal to the total number of pages.   The number-of-sheets determination unit has a maximum number of print sheets with the larger number of pages to be impositioned among the first and second print sheets under the condition that the sum is equal to the total number of pages. The print control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the number of the first and second print sheets is determined. The printing machine is a variable printing machine that performs printing on a continuous recording medium according to the print data;
The print data generation unit generates the print data so that information indicating a cutting position for cutting the recording medium into a size corresponding to the two or more types of print sheets is included based on the overall imposition information. The printing control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   The printing machine includes two or more paper supply units that respectively hold the two or more types of print sheets, and the two or more types of print sheets are printed on the two or more types of print sheets according to the print data. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is a variable printing machine configured to be switchable. A print control method for receiving submission data in a print job for bookbinding and generating print data to be given to a printing machine based on the submission data,
Two or more types of imposition template information indicating the arrangement position and orientation of each page to be imprinted on a print sheet to be used as a signature used for bookbinding and the sheet length of the print sheet with different numbers of pages to be impositioned A template storage step for storing the print sheet in the template storage unit;
Based on the number of pages indicated by the imposition template information as the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets, the number of pages imposed on each type of print sheet and the number of print sheets of that type The sum of the products is equal to or greater than the total number of pages of the submitted data, and the difference between the total and the total number of pages is smaller than the minimum value of the number of pages imposed on each of the two or more types of print sheets. A sheet number determining step for determining the number of print sheets of each type,
An overall surface that specifies the imposition layout of all pages of the input data based on the imposition template information stored in the template storage unit and the number of print sheets of each type determined in the sheet number determination step An overall imposition information determination step for generating imposition information;
And a print data generation step of generating the print data based on the submitted data and the overall imposition information.   The printing control method according to claim 11, wherein in the template storing step, imposition template information for each of two types of printing sheets including the first and second printing sheets is stored in the template storage unit.   In the overall imposition information determination step, the print sheets on which the first page and the last page in the submission data are impositioned are both the imposition pages of the first and second print sheets. The print control method according to claim 12, wherein the overall imposition information is generated so as to be a larger number.   In the sheet number determination step, the product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, the number of pages impositioned on the second print sheet, and the second The print control method according to claim 12, wherein the number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that a sum of products of the print sheets and the number of print sheets is equal to the total number of pages. The number of pages imposed on each of the first and second print sheets is a multiple of 4, and the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the second print sheet are imposed. The difference from the number of pages is 4,
In the sheet number determination step, when the total number of pages is a multiple of 4, the product of the number of pages imposed on the first print sheet and the number of the first print sheets, and the second The print control method according to claim 12, wherein the number of the first and second print sheets is determined so that a sum of products with the number of pages imposed on the print sheet is equal to the total number of pages. .   A print control program for causing a computer to execute the print control method according to claim 11.

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